Letter-file.



" -No.7|6,|48. Patented 'Dec. 16, I902. V F. w. TOBEY.

LETTER FILE.

{Apphcatmn filed Dec..2Q, 1901.)

(No Model.)

ilNirs STATES? FRED W. TOBEY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GLOBEWER- NICKE COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

LETTER-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,148, dated December 1902- I lApplication filed December 20, 1901. Serial No. 86,657. (No model.)

1 following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of drawer .or tray files composed of a bottom piece, a

front wall, and two side walls, the back end being left open and the whole being intended for use as a temporary'binder to be left loose upon a desk or to be slipped into a drawercompartment in a cabinet, as desired. This class of files is usually provided with aspring bail-piece hinged to the back and adapted to be automatically pressed down upon the contents of the file at or near the middle of the same and which-bail can be raised whenever it is desired to gain accessto or remove or replace thecontents of the file; and it has for its object the provision of novel mechan ism by which the spring-bail is secured to and actuated upon the file, wherebysimplicity of construction, durability, and efficiency of action are attained.

The novelty of my invention will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a file embodying my invention on the dotted line a; as of Fig. 4. with the bail turned down and pressing upon the contents of the file. Fig. 2 is a corresponding view, enlarged, of the wall end of the file. Fig. 3 is a corresponding view to Fig. 2 with the bail shown thrown up. Fig. t is a plan View of Fig. 1 next to the wall end of the file. A The same letters of reference are used to indicate identical parts in all the figures.

I provide a tray or drawer of the usual construction of this class of files, composed of a bottom piece A, a front wall B, and side walls C, united togetherin the usual or any suitable manner, and upon the inner side of the wallB,

recess D, covered by a metal plate E, which has a slanting top F, covering the top of the recess, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Within each recess and bearing against the vertical portion of the plate E is a vertical plate G, whose upper end terminates in a hook a, projecting through a slot 1) in the inclined portion F. A coiled spring H has its lower end secured to a pin or stud c, projecting from the inner side of the plate E, and its upper end secured to a pin or stud d, projecting from the inner side of the plate G. The hook at engages with and overlaps a horizontal member a of a crank-arm on the rear end of the retaining bail-piece I, and this crank-arm is bent rearward and then again parallel with the member 6 to form a toggle member f, resting upon the incline F of the plate E. The contractile force of the spring H draws down the plate G and the bail-piece I, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and causes the latter to bear upon the letters or other papers J, contained in the file.

When it is desired to inspect, remove, or introduce any papers, it is only necessary to raise the outer end of the bail-piece I to the position'shown in Fig. 3, whereupon, owing to the incline F of the plate E, a locking-toggle will be formed between the members of and the vertical line of the plate E, which will prevent the spring H from drawing down the bail member until said toggle-lock is broken by drawing the bail member forward until its member f has passed in rear of a plane at right angles to the incline F and which passes through the axis of the member a, whereupon the spring H will be released and its contractile force will draw down the bail member and hold it securely upon the filed papers, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. By this simple arrangement but very little movement is required of the plate G. and very little expansion of the spring H in giving the wide sweep necessary to raise and lock the bail-piece 1.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim In a file of the character described, the combination of the back wall B provided with recesses D, the vertical plates E covering 1 ef, the former engaging the hooks a and the said recesses and having inclined portions F latter bearing upon the inclines F, substanat their upper ends, the plates G behind the tially as and for the purpose specified. plates E and provided with hooks a projecting through apertures in the inclines F, the Witnesses: springs H connecting the plates E G, and the WM. N. ALLEN, bail I provided with the double crank-arms WM. J. PEOK.

FRED W. TOBEY. 

